PART III.---CANTO I.

The Argument.

The Knight and Squire resolve at once,
The one the other to renounce ;

They both approach the Lady's bower,

The Squire t' inform, the Knight to wooe her.
She treats them with a masquerade,

By Furies and Hobgoblins made;

From which the Squire conveys the Knight,
And steals him from himself by night.

'Tis true no lover has that pow'r
T'enforce a desperate amour,
As he that has two strings t' his bow,
And burns for love and money too;
For then he's brave and resolute,
Disdains to render in his suit ;

Has all his flames and raptures double,

And hangs or drowns with half the trouble;

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HUDIBRAS.

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While those who sillily pursue

The simple downright way and true,
Make as unlucky applications,

PART III.

And steer against the stream, their passions.

Some forge their mistresses of stars,

And when the ladies prove averse,

And more untoward to be won
Than by Caligula the moon,

Cry out upon the stars for doing

Ill offices, to cross their wooing,

When only by themselves they're hind'red,
For trusting those they made her kindred,
And still the harsher and hide-bounder
The damsels prove, become the fonder;
For what mad lover ever dy'd

To gain a soft and gentle bride?

Or for a lady tender-hearted,

In purling streams or hemp departed?
Leap'd headlong int' Elysium,

Through th' windows of a dazzling room?
But for some cross ill-natur'd dame,

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The am'rous fly burnt in his flame.

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This to the Knight could be no news,

With all mankind so much in use,

Who therefore took the wiser course,

To make the most of his amours,

Resolv'd to try all sorts of ways,

As follows in due time and place.

No sooner was the bloody fight

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Between the Wizard and the Knight,
With all th' appurtenances, over,

But he relaps'd again t' a lover,L
As he was always wont to do
When h' had discomfited a foe,
And us'd the only antique philters

Deriv'd from old heroic tilters.

But now triumphant and victorious,

He held th' achievement was too glorious

For such a conquerour to meddle

With petty constable or beadle,

Or fly for refuge to the hostess

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Of th' inns of Court and Chancery, Justice; 50

Who might, perhaps, reduce his cause

To th' ordeal trial of the laws,

Where none escape but such as branded

With red-hot irons have past bare-handed;

And, if they cannot read one verse

I' th' Psalms, must sing it, and that's worse.

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He therefore judging it below him,

To tempt a shame the devil might owe him,
Resolv'd to leave the Squire for bail

And mainprise for him, to the jail,

To answer, with his vessel, all

That might disastrously befal;

And thought it now the fittest juncture
To give the Lady a rencounter,
T'acquaint her with his expedition,
And conquest o'er the fierce Magician;
Describe the manner of the fray,
And show the spoils he brought away;
His bloody scourging aggravate,
The number of the blows and weight;
All which might probably succeed,
And gain belief h' had done the deed.

Which he resolv'd t' enforce, and spare,

No pawning of his soul to swear;

But rather than produce his back

To set his conscience on the rack;
And in pursuance of his urging
Of articles perform'd and scourging,,
And all things else upon his part,
Demand delivery of her heart,

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